Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, has urged the Government of India to ensure the release of Kashmiri youth and political prisoners, highlighting their prolonged incarceration and denial of legal rights.
Expressing concern, Mehdi said that over 5,000 Kashmiri youth are languishing in different prisons across India, many of whom are either under trial or have been detained without trial. He specifically mentioned journalist Irfan Mehraj, who has been in custody for two years, and Khuram Shahzad, who has been imprisoned for four years.
“The government is neither serious nor ensuring legal rights for these detainees,” Mehdi stated.
He also revealed that he had personally submitted a letter to the Home Minister, seeking their release, but had not received a response.
As the holy month of Ramadan nears its end and Eid approaches, Mehdi appealed for prayers and collective efforts for the release of these prisoners. He called upon people to raise their voices on Jumatul Wida (the last Friday of Ramadan), not only for the people of Palestine and Gaza but also for Kashmiri detainees and others imprisoned across India, including Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid.
“I hope that people will remember these youth and demand their release with the same intensity as they do for the people of Gaza,” he said. (KNS)
